The Role of CD36 in Human Health and Disease

Dear Colleagues,

During recent years, the CD36 receptor has arisen as a key participant in the multiplayer environment of different homeostatic and diseased states and a brilliant example of resource optimisation in a biological system.

In homeostatic conditions, CD36 is expressed by a wide varety of cell types, where it supports various functions. It was introduced as a  cell adhesion molecule  on platelets and erythrocytes with high affinity for collagens and thrombospondin-1, but later on, it was found to support many other roles, from the recognition, uptake, and processing of fatty acids, to lipids scavenging for anionic or oxidized phospholipids or lipoproteins, angiogenesis inhibition by impairing endothelial cell migration and promoting apoptosis, microglial binding and the clearance of hydrophobic amyloid fibrils in brains affected by Alzheimer’s disease, and even the recognition and clearance of fungi and bacteria, just to name a few. As a result, it has acquired many names  along the way, from glycoprotein IV (GPIV) to fatty acid translocase (FAT), scavenger receptor class B (SR-B2), or glycoprotein 88 (GP88).

There are also multiple CD36-related mechanisms for promoting cancer progression and metastasis, mostly in relation to trombospondins. Other studies suggested that the induction of CD36 expression on tumour cells shifts metabolism from glucose oxidation to lipid uptake and storage, and is proportional to their metastatic potential or cancer progression through epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT).

This Special Issue is an open invitation to highlight what is already demonstrated and to encourage going beyond the edges of this already-expanding universe.

Dr. Laura Cristina Ceafalan
Dr. Mihail E. Hinescu
Guest Editors

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• CD36
• lipid scavenger
• cell-to-matrix adhesion
• metastasis
• neoangiogenesis
• biomarker

Title: The function of CD36 the infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Jianjun Wang1, Hongqing Yin2
Affiliation: Jiangsu University
Abstract: Abstract: The scavenger receptor CD36 has been reported to functions as a signaling receptor responding to DAMPs and PAMPs, and could integrate cell signaling and metabolic pathways through its dual functions and thereby influence immune cell differentiation and activation to regulate the immune response. Recent studies have revealed that CD36 play critical roles in the process of the inflammatory response and drug resistance process caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. This review would comprehensively investigate the functions of CD36 in a variety of immune cells, inflammatory response, drug resistance and diagnostic targets and biomarkers in the infection process of M. tuberculosis. Ultimately, outstanding issues in this field are raised to designate future directions. Key Words: CD36, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, inflammatory response, immune response, drug resistance